The head of Marks & Spencer’s Asia business is to step down less than two years into the job as the retailer announced a shake-up of its China business.

Bruce Findlay, a former executive of Calvin Klein, is leaving to take up a role at Diesel, the Italian fashion brand, having joined M&S in September 2013.

He had been appointed after Pascal Martin left after less than two years in the post and is the latest senior overseas executive to leave M&S. Last year, it emerged that Jan Heere was leaving his post as head of international to return to Russia.

The news of Mr Findlay’s departure emerged as M&S announced plans to close five of its stores in secondary Chinese cities in by August,…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.